Protective enclosure for test instrument

ABSTRACT

A weather-proof flexible enclosure for electrical test equipment commonly used in the field. The enclosure or casing has a builtin window of flexible transparent material with sufficient excess to permit the user to manipulate, from the exterior thereof, control elements on a panel of test equipment housed in the casing. Loops of strip material secured to the enclosure serve to reinforce the saem as well as to carry and to suspend it in the filed from any convenient support.

[451 May 30, 1972 United States Patent Gillemot et al.

4/1949 Goldstein.............................

1541 PROTECTIVE ENCLOSURE FOR TEST 150/52 R .150/52 K X INSTRUMENT [72]Inventors: George'W. Glllemot, 2331 20th St., Santa .....150/52 R...150/s2 R 3,380,504 4/1968 Green.....

.u m m m m m R m m S m w m o H .m m a 1 a w 5 9 m n 2 P.

Monica, Calif. 90405; John T. Thompson, 244 Loring St., Los Angeles.Calif. 90024 July 24, 1970 Assistant Examiner-Stephen P. GarbeAnorney--Sel1ers and Brace [22] Filed:

[21] Appl. No.:

ABSTRACT A weather-proof flexible enclosure for electrical testequipment commonly used in the field. The enclosure or casing has abuilt-in window of flexible transparent material with sufficient excessto permit the user to manipulate. from the exterior thereof, controlelements on a panel of test equipment .5 9 W Z 5 "5 J M mm5 -l mmm Lmf Ckm Smh UIF 11] 2 8 555 11 housed in the casing. Loops of strip materialsecured to the en- Reierences Cited closure serve to reinforce the saemas well as to carry and to suspend it in the filed from any convenientsupport.

- UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,758,413 8/1956Woodrufi,Sr.......................150/52R 8Clainm,6DrawingFlguresPatented May 30', 1972 3,665,991

INVENTORQ.

OH/V 7. THOMPsO/V ATEZ/VEVS PROTECTIVE ENCLOSURE FOR TEST INSTRUMENTThis invention relates to carrying cases for electrical test equipmentand more particularly to an improved, versatile, lightweight,weatherproof enclosure sized to fit snugly over a test instrument andequipped with a pair of covers and featuring a window of flexibletransparent material folded to provide excess through which theinstrument controls can be manipulated. g

The casing is tailored to fit snugly the particular instrument to beprotected and includes a mainaccess opening through which the instrumentproper is installed. Desirably this cover has wide flanges equipped witha non-tacky pressure-sensitive fastener without moving parts or portionsprotruding through apertures in the rim of the cover and having nomechanical parts requiring servicing or exposure to hazards in the useof the equipment. One or more walls of the casing are equipped with awindow opposite an associated instrument panel or controls which windowis closed by excess flexible transparent material so arranged that thecontrols can be manipulated therethrough and yet effective to preventthe passage of moisture and foreign matter. This window is preferablypro tected by a cover flap equipped with suitable fastener means, suchas that employed for holding the main cover closed.

Another feature of the invention instrument case is the provision ofreinforcing straps secured about three sides of the casing and includinga pair of loops usable as carrying grips and additionally to suspend theinstrument in the field from any available support.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to providea lightweight, inexpensive, protective enclosure for electrical testequipment of the type commonly used in the field and so designed as topermit observation and control of the instrument controls without needfor opening the enclosure or exposing its contents to the weather orforeign matter.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedenclosure for electrical test equipment embodying carrying handlesembracing a major part of the equipment and usable additionally tosuspend it from any available support.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a protectiveenclosure for field test equipment having a window of excess flexible,transparent material closely overlying. a control panel and throughwhich controls can be manipulated and observed without opening the mainenclosure.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading thefollowing specification and claims and upon considering in connectiontherewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of theinvention in fully closed condition;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the inventionenclosure taken opposite the instrument viewing window and showing thewindow cover in open position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on an enlarged scale takenalong line 3-3 on FIG 2; and

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary cross sectional views taken on anenlarged scale taken along lines 4-4 and 5-5 on FIG. 1 and along line6-6 on FIG. 2.

Referring initially more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention casing, designated generally 10,formed. of any suitable, strong, lightweight, waterproof material suchas cotton or fiberglass fabric impregnated with waterproofing materialor an elastomeric coating of any well known composition. Enclosure 10has a deep, cupshaped main body 11 provided with an access opening 12(FIG. 3) here shown as being coextensive in size with the larger uprightdimension of the instrument 13 for which enclosure 10 is designed.Access opening 12 is normally closed by a cup-shaped cover 15 made ofthe same coated material as main body 11. The wide flange l6 embracingthe periphery of cover 15 has a snug fit over the exterior of accessopening 12, as is best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6. As herein shown,cover 15 is hinged to the top end of casing 11 by stitching l8.

Normally, cover 15 is held securely closed about the rim of accessopening 12 by a dust-proof, concealed fastener means 20. Preferablyfastener means 20 is of the pressure-sensitive mechanical type availableon the open market as, for example, the type known commercially underthe tradename Velcro. This fastener comprises an inner tape 22 securedabout the exterior of the casing wall adjacent access opening 12 andfeaturing loosely matted fibers adapted to interlock releasably with amultiplicity of flexible plastic barbs carried by a second tape 23secured to the inner surface of cover flange 16. The barbs on tape 23readily interlock with the fibers of tape 22 as light pressure isapplied to press these barbs into the fiber. Opening of the fastener isaccomplished by grasping the rim edge of flangel6 and peeling it out ofengagement with the fibers of tape 23. So long as wide versions of thefastener tapes are mated the cover is held firmly and securely closedand it is virtually impossible for moisture or foreign matter to escapetherepast into the interior of enclosure 10.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, it is pointed out thatone wall of enclosure 10 such as the cover 15, is provided with a window26 opposite the instrument panel of test equipment 13. This window issealed closed by a sheet of tough, transparent, flexible, plasticmaterial 27 in a manner providing ample excess material to permit easymanipulation therethrough of the switches 28 and the control knob orknobs 29 on the instrument panel. As here shown, switches 28 are of thewell known toggle type, whereas control knob 29 is of the rotary type,However, both may be of various well known constructions. One practicalmode of providing excess window material is to drape it in transversefolds 30,30 overlying control knobs or switches to be manipulated.Excess material together with its suppleness and flexibility permits theoperator to grasp the control elements to manipulate them as necessaryto operate the test equipment. It will also be apparent that the controlpositions and instrument readings are readily observed through thewindow.

Additional protection for the window and the control elements isdesirably provided, as by a flap cover 33 of the same material as themain body of the enclosure. Window cover 33 is stitched or otherwisesecured to the enclosure along one edge of the window as by stitching34. The opposite rim portion of cover 33 is equipped with pressuresensitive fastener means 37 of the same type described above andemployed to hold main cover 15 in closed position.

To facilitate carrying and handling the equipment in the field,enclosure 10 is preferably provided with heavy-duty flexible tapes orstraps 40,40 secured to the main body of the enclosure as by stitching41. Straps 40, as herein shown, extend along the opposite vertical endsand across the lower end of the enclosure and include loops 43projecting above the upper ends of the enclosure. Desirably these loopsinclude adequate material to permit one loop to be inserted through theother, if this should be desirable in order to suspend the equipmentfrom a single support in the field. Also, the two grips 43 may bebrought together and used as hand grips in carrying the instrument in asingle hand.

While the particular protective enclosure for test instrument hereinshown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objectsand providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understoodthat it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment ofthe invention, and that no limitations are intended to the details ofconstruction or design herein shown other than as defined in theappended claims.

We claim:

1. A protective enclosure for use about a field electrical testinstrument of the type having a casing including an exposed panelequipped with manually adjustable control elements and visually readableindicia useful in testing electrical equipment in the field, saidprotective enclosure comprising a heavy duty flexible waterproof wrappersized for snug assembly about and fully enclosing said instrumentcasing, said wrapper having a cluding a sheet of pliant transparentmaterial arranged in pleated fulness with excess material closelyoverlying control elements on said panel which control elements aremanipulatable through said pleated fulness, said transparent sheet andprotective enclosure cooperating to protect testing equipment and itsinstrument panel in inclement weather without interferring with its useand the manipulation of its control elements, one face of said main bodyhaving an access opening, a shallow cup-like cover for said accessopening hinged along one rim edge of said access opening, the interiorsurfaces of the sidewalls of said cover having a snug overlapping fitwith the exterior sidewalls of said main body adjacent the rim of saidaccess opening, fastener means normally holding the rim of said coverclosed over said access opening, a second cover of flexible sheetmaterial having one edge thereof hinged to said first mentioned coveralong one edge portion of said window and of a size adequate to coverand protect said window when closed thereover, and releasable means forsecuring said second cover closed over said window when the latter isnot in use.

2. A protective enclosure as defined in claim 1 characterized in thatsaid fastener means comprises a multiplicity of pressure sensitiveinterlocking elements of flexible material.

3. A protective enclosure as defined in claim 1 characterized in thatsaid fastener means comprises pairs of tapes of flexible materialsecured one to the rim portion of said access opening and one to the rimportion of said cover, said tapes being separably mateable to securesaid cover closed.

4. A protective enclosure as defined in claim 1 characterized in thatsaid releasable means for said second window comprises a multiplicity ofpressure sensitive interlocking elements of flexible material.

5. A protective enclosure as defined in claim 1 characterized in theprovision of a pair of flexible loops of strong strip material securedto the opposite upper end comers thereof and usable selectively ascarrying hand grips for said protective enclosure and its contents andas means for suspending said protective enclosure from a wall bracket,the footsteps on a telegraph pole and the like type supports availablein an outdoor operating environment.

6. A protective enclosure as defined in claim 5 characterized in thatsaid pair of loops and the strip material thereof extend downwardlyalong the opposite ends and across the bottom of said protectiveenclosure so as to embrace three exterior sides of said enclosure tostrengthen and reinforce the same.

7. A protective enclosure as defined in claim 5 characterized in thatsaid window is located in a vertical sidewall of said protectiveenclosure located between said pair of carrying loops.

8. A protective enclosure as defined in claim 7, characterized in thatthe hinge for said cover is located between said carrying loops, andsaid hinge for said window cover being along the edge of said windowcloser to the top edge of said protective enclosure.

1. A protective enclosure for use about a field electrical testinstrument of the type having a casing including an exposed panelequipped with manually adjustable control elements and visually readableindicia useful in testing electrical equipment in the field, saidprotective enclosure comprising a heavy duty flexible waterproof wrappersized for snug assembly about and fully enclosing said instrumentcasing, said wrapper having a window in juxtaposition to said instrumentcontrol panel including a sheet of pliant transparent material arrangedin pleated fulness with excess material closely overlying controlelements on said panel which control elements are manipulatable throughsaid pleated fulness, said transparent sheet and protective enclosurecooperating to protect testing equipment and its instrument panel ininclement weather without interferring with its use and the manipulationof its control elements, one face of said main body having an accessopening, a shallow cup-like cover for said access opening hinged alongone rim edge of said access opening, the interior surfaces of thesidewalls of said cover having a snug overlapping fit with the exteriorsidewalls of said main body adjacent the rim of said access opening,fastener means normally holding the rim of said cover closed over saidaccess opening, a second cover of flexible sheet material having oneedge thereof hinged to said first mentioned cover along one edge portionof said window and of a size adequate to cover and protect said windowwhen closed thereover, and releasable means for securing said secondcover closed over said window when the latter is not in use.
 2. Aprotective enclosure as defined in claim 1 characterized in that saidfastener means comprises a multiplicity of pressure sensitiveinterlocking elements of flexible material.
 3. A protective enclosure asdefined in claim 1 characterized in that said fastener means comprisespairs of tapes of flexible material secured one to the rim portion ofsaid access opening and one to the rim portion of said cover, said tapesbeing separably mateable to secure said cover closed.
 4. A protectiveenclosure as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said releasablemeans for said second window comprises a multiplicity of pressuresensitive interlocking elements of flexible material.
 5. A protectiveenclosure as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of a pairof flexible loops of strong strip material secured to the opposite upperend corners thereof and usable selectively as carrying hand grips forsaid protective enclosure and its contents and as means for suspendingsaid protective enclosure from a wall bracket, the footsteps on atelegraph pole and the like type supports available in an outdooroperating environment.
 6. A protective enclosure as defined in claim 5characterizeD in that said pair of loops and the strip material thereofextend downwardly along the opposite ends and across the bottom of saidprotective enclosure so as to embrace three exterior sides of saidenclosure to strengthen and reinforce the same.
 7. A protectiveenclosure as defined in claim 5 characterized in that said window islocated in a vertical sidewall of said protective enclosure locatedbetween said pair of carrying loops.
 8. A protective enclosure asdefined in claim 7, characterized in that the hinge for said cover islocated between said carrying loops, and said hinge for said windowcover being along the edge of said window closer to the top edge of saidprotective enclosure.